
Course Content
A. Science practices and tools
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A.01. Identify laboratory tools.
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A.02. Identify laboratory safety equipment.
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A.03. Identify the steps of the scientific method.
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A.04. Explain the importance of the scientific method in scientific investigations.
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A.05. Use scientific tools to measure quantities.
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A.06. Design and conduct a simple scientific experiment.
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A.07. Analyze the role of observation in scientific investigations.
B. Designing experiments
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B.01. Identify the experimental question.
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B.02. Identify control and experimental groups.
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B.03. Identify independent and dependent variables.
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B.04. Identify questions that can be investigated with a set of materials.
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B.05. Understand an experimental protocol about plant growth.
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B.06. Understand an experimental protocol about diffusion.
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B.07. Understand an experimental protocol about evaporation.
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B.08. Interpret data from experiments using graphs and charts.
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B.09. Explain the importance of variables in experiments.
C. Engineering practices
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C.01. Identify parts of the engineering-design process.
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C.02. Evaluate tests of engineering-design solutions.
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C.03. Use data from tests to compare engineering-design solutions.
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C.04. Explore the engineering-design process: going to the Moon!
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C.05. Apply the engineering design process to solve a problem.
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C.06. Brainstorm potential solutions to an engineering challenge.
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C.07. Analyze the impact of design choices on a product’s performance.
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C.08. Evaluate the effectiveness of different solutions based on data.
D. Matter and mass
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D.01. Understand conservation of matter using graphs.
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D.02. Describe the properties of matter.
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D.03. Explore the difference between mass and weight.
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D.04. Explain the relationship between mass and volume.
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D.05. Analyze the states of matter and their properties.
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D.06. Use models to illustrate the conservation of matter.
E. Force and motion
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E.01. Calculate speed from time and distance.
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E.02. Calculate distance from speed and time.
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E.03. Calculate time from speed and distance.
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E.04. Calculate speed, distance, and time I.
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E.05. Calculate speed, distance, and time II.
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E.06. Identify whether objects are accelerating.
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E.07. Balanced and unbalanced forces.
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E.08. How does mass affect force and acceleration?
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E.09. Predict forces using Newton’s third law.
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E.10. Interpret and draw motion graphs.
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E.11. Describe Newton’s three laws of motion.
F. Energy
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F.01. Identify changes in gravitational potential energy.
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F.02. Explore energy transformations: roller coaster ride.
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F.03. Identify the different types of energy.
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F.04. Describe how energy can be transferred.
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F.05. Describe the law of conservation of energy.
G. Electricity and magnetism
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G.01. Introduction to static electricity and charged objects.
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G.02. Electric circuits.
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G.03. Compare magnitudes of magnetic forces.
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G.04. Distinguish between conductors and insulators.
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G.05. Describe the relationship between electricity and magnetism.
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G.06. Construct a simple electric circuit.
H. Particle motion and energy
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H.01. How does particle motion affect temperature?
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H.02. Particle motion and changes of state.
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H.03. How does particle motion affect gas pressure?
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H.04. Identify how particle motion affects temperature and pressure.
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H.05. Model the movement of particles in different states of matter.
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H.06. Explain the relationship between kinetic energy and temperature.
I. Scientific names
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I.01. Identify common and scientific names.
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I.02. Origins of scientific names.
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I.03. Use scientific names to classify organisms.
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I.04. Explain the benefits of using scientific names.
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I.05. Research and present information on the naming of organisms.
J. Classification
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J.01. Identify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
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J.02. Identify vertebrates and invertebrates.
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J.03. Use evidence to classify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
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J.04. Use evidence to classify animals.
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J.05. Describe, classify, and compare kingdoms.
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J.06. Explain the role of classification in understanding the natural world.
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J.07. Classify organisms using a dichotomous key.
K. Plants
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K.01. Identify plant parts and their functions.
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K.02. Classify fruits and vegetables as plant parts.
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K.03. Identify flower parts and their functions.
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K.04. Describe the process of photosynthesis.
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K.05. Explain how plants obtain water and nutrients.
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K.06. Analyze the life cycle of a flowering plant.
L. Animals
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L.01. Read and construct animal life cycle diagrams.
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L.02. Compare animal life cycles.
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L.03. Analyze adaptations that support animal life cycles.
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L.04. Explain how animals develop and grow.
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L.05. Investigate the differences between complete and incomplete metamorphosis.
M. Anatomy and physiology
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M.01. Body systems: circulation and respiration.
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M.02. Body systems: digestion.
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M.03. Body systems: removing waste.
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M.04. Body systems: perception and motion.
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M.05. Science literacy: how does the nervous system produce phantom pain?
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M.06. Describe the functions of the skeletal and muscular systems.
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M.07. Investigate the role of the circulatory system in transporting materials.
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M.08. Model the processes involved in digestion.
N. Adaptations and natural selection
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N.01. Animal adaptations: feet and limbs.
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N.02. How can animal behaviors affect reproductive success? Identify evidence to support a claim.
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N.03. Introduction to natural selection.
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N.04. Calculate the percentages of traits in a population.
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N.05. Calculate the averages of traits in a population.
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N.06. Construct explanations of natural selection.
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N.07. Predict how environmental changes might impact a population.
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N.08. Analyze case studies of natural selection in action.
O. Plant reproduction
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O.01. Flowering plant and conifer life cycles.
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O.02. Moss and fern life cycles.
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O.03. Explain the role of pollination in plant reproduction.
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O.04. Describe the process of seed dispersal.
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O.05. Analyze the adaptations that support plant reproduction.
P. Photosynthesis
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P.01. How do plants use and change energy?
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P.02. Identify the photosynthetic organism.
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P.03. Describe the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis.
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P.04. Explain the importance of photosynthesis to ecosystems.
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P.05. Model the process of photosynthesis.
Q. Ecosystems
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Q.01. Describe populations, communities, and ecosystems.
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Q.02. Identify ecosystems.
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Q.03. Describe ecosystems.
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Q.04. Explain the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers.
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Q.05. Analyze the flow of energy in an ecosystem.
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Q.06. Construct a food web.
R. Conservation
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R.01. Coral reef biodiversity and human uses: explore a problem.
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R.02. Coral reef biodiversity and human uses: evaluate solutions.
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R.03. Explain the importance of biodiversity.
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R.04. Analyze human impacts on ecosystems.
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R.05. Propose solutions to address environmental challenges.
S. Natural resources and human impacts
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S.01. Evaluate claims about natural resource use: groundwater.
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S.02. Evaluate claims about natural resource use: fossil fuels.
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S.03. Identify different types of natural resources.
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S.04. Assess the impacts of human activities on natural resources.
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S.05. Evaluate sustainable practices for managing natural resources.
T. The atmosphere
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T.01. Explore air masses.
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T.02. Identify and compare air masses.
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T.03. How do air masses form?
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T.04. The greenhouse effect.
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T.05. Explain the role of the atmosphere in supporting life.
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T.06. Describe the composition of the atmosphere.
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T.07. Analyze the effects of air pollution.
U. Weather and climate
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U.03. Use data to describe climates.
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U.04. Factors affecting climate: latitude.
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U.05. Factors affecting climate: altitude.
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U.06. Factors affecting climate: distance from the ocean.
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U.07. Factors affecting climate: surface ocean currents.
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U.08. Interpret weather maps.
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U.09. Explain the difference between weather and climate.
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U.10. Analyze the impact of climate change.
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U.01. Weather and climate around the world.
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U.02. Weather or climate? Cite text.
V. Astronomy
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V.01. Earth’s rotation and orbit.
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V.02. Analyze models of the Earth-Sun-Moon system.
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V.03. Constellations and the changing night sky.
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V.04. Identify phases of the Moon.
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V.05. Solar eclipses.
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V.06. Lunar eclipses.
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V.07. What causes the seasons on Earth?
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V.08. Analyze data to compare properties of planets.
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V.09. Identify constellations.
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V.10. Structure of the universe.
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V.11. Describe the life cycle of a star.
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V.12. Compare and contrast the planets in our solar system.
W. Units and measurement
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W.01. Choose units of distance, mass, and volume.
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W.02. Abbreviate time, length, speed, and acceleration units.
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W.03. Abbreviate mass and volume units.
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W.04. Abbreviate force, energy, and electricity units.
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W.05. Convert between metric units.
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W.06. Explain the importance of measurement in science.